Surface mounted dispensing system

ABSTRACT

A surface mounted dispensing system includes a bracket having a circular flange and a central hub protruding therefrom with a hub including threads thereon. A bottle is providing having a flat back with a circular embossment for receiving the flange and the hub. The embossment includes a depth for enabling the flat back to flushly contact a surface supporting the flange. The embossment includes a grooved central recess for engaging a hub in order that rotation of the bottle in one direction causes the bottle to be secured to the bracket and rotation in an opposite direction causes release of the bottle from the bracket.

The present invention is generally related to surface or wall mounteddispensers suitable for measuring and delivering into a users hand asmall uniform quantity of liquids or viscous liquids such as soaps,creams, paste and lubricants.

Many designs of liquid dispensers, particularly liquid soap dispensers,are well known in the art. Such dispensers typically are employed inpublic restrooms and the like and usually include a mounting bracket topermanently affix the dispenser to a wall. Such dispensers also includean access port of same type in order that the dispenser may be servicedby a maintenance worker for refilling.

Other types of dispensers utilize refill cartridges that are insertedinto a housing structure. All such dispensers rely on continuedmaintenance and operability of the housing, which is permeably affixedto a wall.

In order to service such dispensers, a supply system must be utilizedfor storing additional liquid soap or the like which is thereaftertransported and loaded into the dispenser. It should be apparent thatthis maintenance entails considerable time and logistics.

In addition, if the dispenser is damaged or vandalized, replacementthereof involves the removal of the entire housing from the wall and thereinstallation of a new dispenser housing.

The present invention is an improvement over such existing dispensers inthat it provides a self-contained dispenser, which may be disposable orrefillable. The refilling of the dispenser may be done in a centrallocation and accordingly does not depend upon the time consuming onsiterefilling of heretofore utilized wall-mounted dispensers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A surface mounted dispensing system in accordance with the presentinvention provides for a flush mounted bottle and bracket with thedispensing bottle being easily removed from the bracket.

More particularly, the bracket includes a mounting flange and athreadable hub upstanding from the flange. The bottle, in turn, includesa flat back with an embossment for receiving the hub and the flange inorder to enable the flat back to flushly contact a surface supportingthe bracket.

This structure inhibits tampering of the dispensing bottle in view ofthe fact that there is no members which are accessible to vandals.

More particularly, the embossment includes a grooved central recess forengaging a threaded hub which enables rotation of the bottle with therespect to the bracket to secure and release the bottle to and from thebracket.

Thus, for maintenance requiring refilling of the bottle, a maintenanceworker may simply replace the empty or partially full dispenser bottlewith a full bottle with minimal effort. The empty or partially fullbottles may thereafter be reloaded at a central site. Accordingly, thepresent invention may include a system which includes a plurality ofbottles and a bracket for supporting one of the bottles with theremaining bottles being utilized for on-site refilling.

Preferably, the hub threads and corresponding recess grooves areleft-handed which is contrary to convention so that instinctualclockwise rotation of the bottle with respect to the bracket actuallytightens the bottle to the bracket. Because of the flush mount, no othervisible means of attachment are evident which enhances the tamper proofnature of the surface mounted dispensing system in accordance with thepresent invention.

Still more particularly, the mounting flange may include slots forreceiving headed screws for fixing the bracket to the surface. Suchscrew heads are accommodated by the embossment which includes a circulargroove surrounding the central recess for receiving the screw headswhich also enables and facilitates the flat back to flushly contact themonthly surface and further enables rotation for securing and releasingthe bottle to and from the bracket.

A plunger type dispenser is disposed at a top of the bottle along anaxis dissecting the central recess. This structure enables actuation ofthe plunger so that no rotation or torque to the bottle is provided andhence dislodgement of the bottle from the bracket is inhibited. In apreferred embodiment of the present invention, both the flange and therecess are generally circular in nature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will be betterunderstood by the following description when considered in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bottle and bracket in accordancewith the present invention showing the bottle and the bracket in aspaced apart relationship in order to show a bracket flange, a brackethub along with a bottle having a flat back with an embossment thereinfor receiving the bracket hub; and

FIG. 2 is a side view of the bottle and bracket of FIG. 1, in partialcross section, showing the engagement of the embossment with the bracketand flush mounting of the flat back of the bottle against a mountingsurface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a surface mountingdispensing system 10 generally including a bracket 12 having a circularflange 14 and a central hub protruding, or upstanding, therefrom.

As shown, the hub 16 includes threads, preferably left-handed ashereinabove noted, formed therein. A bottle 24 in accordance with thepresent invention includes a generally flat back 26 with a circularembossment therein for receiving the flange 14 and the hub 16.

As more clearly shown in FIG. 2, the embossment 30 has a depth forreceiving the hub 16 and flange 14 to enable the flat back 26 to flushlycontact a surface 26, 32 supporting the bracket 14.

The embossment 30 includes an outer recess 36 for receiving the flange14 and a central recess 40 for receiving the hub 16. Preferably moldedinto the central recess 40 are threads 40 for engaging grooves 20 of thehub 16. Preferably, the grooves 16, threads 40 engagement is of rapiddisconnect for enabling a 180° rotation of the bottle 24 to completelydisengage from the flange or engage the flange by a half turn.

Preferably, the bottle is blow molded from plastic and the bracket mayeither be plastic or metal. Any suitable material may be utilized

The mounting flange 14 may include slots 46 enabling fixing of thebracket 14 to the surface 32 through the use of headed screws 48. Theheaded screws 48 are accommodated by a second recess 50 in theembossment 30 which enables the flush mount of the bottle 24 against asurface 26, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Preferably, the flange 14 and embossment 30 are generally circular innature which facilitates manufacture and the rotation of the bottle 24with respect to the bracket 14.

A dispensing pump 52 which, may be conventional in nature, is disposedat a top 54 of the bottle 24 on an axis 56 which is perpendicular to anembossment axis 58 and thus dissects the central axis 59 in order thatactuation of a dispenser plunger 60 does not apply any rotational torqueto the bottle 24. This prevents dislodgement of the bottle 24 from thebracket 14 during operation of the dispenser 52.

Although there has been hereinabove described a specific surface mounteddispensing system in accordance with the present invention for thepurpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used toadvantage, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limitedthereto. That is, the present invention may suitably comprise, consistof, or consist essentially of the recited elements. Further, theinvention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced inthe absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalentarrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art, should beconsidered to be within the scope of the present invention as defined inthe appended claims.

1. A flush mount dispensing bottle and bracket comprising: a brackethaving a mounting flange and a threaded hub, upstanding from the flange;and a bottle having a flat back with an embossment for receiving the huband the flange to enable the flat back to flushly contact a surfacesupporting said bracket, said embossment including a grooved centralrecess for engaging said threaded hub for enabling rotation of saidbottle, with respect to said bracket, to secure and release said bottleto and from said bracket.
 2. The bottle and bracket according to claim 1wherein said mounting flange includes slots for receiving threadedscrews for fixing said bracket to said surface, and said embossmentincludes a circular groove surrounding the central recess for receivingthe screw heads to both enable the flat back to flushly contact thesurface and rotate to cause securing and releasing said bottle to andfrom said bracket.
 3. The bottle and bracket according to claim 1wherein the hub threads and central recess threads are left-handed toenable clockwise rotation of said bottle with respect to said bracket torelease said bottle from said bracket.
 4. The bottle and bracketaccording to claim 1 further comprising a plunger type dispenserdisposed at a top of said bottle along an axis dissecting the centralrecess in order that actuation of said plunger does not apply anyrotation torque to the bottle thus preventing dislodgement of saidbottle from said bracket.
 5. The bottle and bracket according to claim 2wherein said mounting flange is circular.
 6. The bottle and bracketaccording to claim 5 wherein said embossment is circular.
 7. The bottleand bracket according to claim 1 wherein the threads and grooves enableengagement and disengagement of the bottle to and from the bracket by a90° rotation of the bottle.
 8. A surface mounted dispensing system: abracket having a circular flange and a central hub protruding therefrom,the hub having threads therein; a bottle having a flat back with acircular embossment for receiving the flange and the hub, the embossmenthaving a depth for enabling the flat back to flushly contact a surfacesupporting the flange, said embossment including a grooved centralrecess for engaging the hub threads, rotation of said bottle in onedirection causing the bottle to be secured on said bracket and rotationis an opposite direction causing release of the bottle from saidbracket.
 9. The system according to claim 8 wherein said circular flangeincludes slots for receiving headed screws for fixing said bracket tosaid surface, and said embossment includes a circular groove surroundingthe central recess for receiving the screw heads both enable the flatback to flushly contact the surface and rotate for securing andreleasing said bottle to and from said bracket.
 10. The system accordingto claim 8 wherein the hub threads and central recess grooves areleft-handed to enable clockwise rotation of said bottle with respect tosaid bracket to release said bottle from said bracket.
 11. The systemaccording to claim 8 further comprising a plunger type dispenserdisposed at a top of said bottle along an axis dissecting the centralrecess in order that actuation of said plunger does not apply anyrotation torque to the bottle thus preventing dislodgement of saidbottle from said bracket.
 12. The system according to claim 8 whereinsaid embossment is circular.
 13. The system according to claim 8 furthercomprises a plurality of the bottles each removably fixable to saidbracket.
 14. The system according to claim 8 wherein the thread andgrooves enable engagement and disengagement of the bottle to and fromthe bracket by a rotation of the bottle.
 15. The system according toclaim 14 wherein the rotation is 180°.